Friday, December 4, 2009

Getting my butt kicked

This chemo regimen is getting to me. I'm sleeping most of the day and going through all kinds of different anti-nausea drugs. So far my puke count is at 0, and I hope it stays there. Eating is still happening, just not a lot of it.

One of the side effects of busulfan, one of the drugs I'm getting, is the possibility of seizures so they put these bumper pads all around my bed and I'm taking enough anti-epileptics that my dad, who is a neurologist, was surprised. Awesome.

I'm working on plans for my second second birthday party. I decided that I'm having a second second birthday instead of a third birthday because it sounds funnier and more appropriately represents what kind of birthday this is.

During my last transplant I was able to update my blog every day except one and I'll try to do the same this time around, but I'm telling you right now that I make no promises because I'm really getting my butt kicked. The most exciting part of perhaps daily updates will be my blood counts, which are the key to knowing if I've engrafted yet (egraftment, remember, is when my donor's cells start growing inside my bones). The numbers to pay attention to are the platelets (clot your blood), hemoglobin (carries oxygen around the body), hematocrit (percentage of blood that is red blood cells), white blood cells (immune system) and specifically a type of white blood cells called the neutrophil, which are like the first responders to infection.

My counts right now are normal:

WBC: 7.5
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC): 6.9
Hemoglobin: 10.8 (this is a little low but that's because I'm getting pumped full of fluids)
Hematocrit: 32.1%
Platelets: 209

The WBCSs and ANCs will get down to 0 or very close to it in a few days and then we'll be looking for the rebound. When my hemoglobin gets under 8 they will give me blood transfusions, and when my platelets are 15-10 they'll give me platelet transfusions.

And now I'm going to bed. Thanks for all of your support and good wishes, they really mean a lot to me.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ouch, take care of you girl, that doesn't sound fun. But remember, you did great the first time, and I'm confident that your body will accept the transplant... your body is smart!

Believe, believe, believe.

Remember, this is a tough time and it suck (and don't hesitate to complain to us, readers, as much as you want! Let your French side go wild and bitch like a true Parisian!) but you will one day look back and think: wow, I'm fine now.

Sending virtual hugs

islandgirl4ever2 said...

Hey Mir...


Just woke up and hopped over to your blog to see how everything went... I know it's a really hard time for everything that you are going through... and that you are strong.. and you have good humor to go with it...
Well, anyway.. I happy that things went well.. I was thinking of you all day yesterday ....
Take care and get some rest, right? Isn't that what the body needs for healing? Okay, I know you are going to get plenty of rest.. It just sounded like the motherly thing to say!!
Take care...
Leese

Erica said...

Good luck with everything, we're all here supporting you !!!

au soleil levant said...

Zhu - thanks for the good wishes, and thanks for giving me "permission" to whine and bitch :)

Leesa - don't worry, I am getting lots and lots of rest! Maybe too much!

Erica - thank you!